All Saints' Day Home Calendar Holidays All Saints' Day All Saints' Day All Saints' Day is a celebration of all Christian saints, particularly those who have no special feast days of their own, in many Roman Catholic, Anglican and Protestant churches. In many western churches it is annually held November 1 and in many eastern churches it is celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. It is also known as All Hallows Tide, All-Hallomas, or All Hallows' Day. Wheat is one of the symbols of All Saints' Day. Wheat is one of the symbols of All Saints' Day. ©iStockphoto.com/Willie B. Thomas What Do People Do? All Saints' Day is observed by Christians in many countries around the world. In countries such as Spain, Portugal and Mexico, offerings are made on this day. In countries such as Belgium, Hungary and Italy people bring flowers to the graves of dead relatives. In other parts of Europe, such as Austria, Croatia, Poland, and Romania, it is customary to light candles on top of visiting graves of deceased relatives. It is also observed in parts of Asia, such as the Philippines, where people visit graves of deceased relatives and clean or repair them.

They also lay flowers on the graves and light candles. In France church services in memory of all the saints are held on November 1 but by the evening the focus turns towards the dead. Cemeteries everywhere are crowded with people who come to clean and decorate family graves. All Saints' Day is closely tied with All Souls' Day, held on November 2, which is dedicated to prayers of the dead who are not yet glorified. Public Life All Saints’ Day is a public holiday in many countries such as (but not exclusive to): Austria. All Saints Day 2017, All Hallows, The Feast of All Saints The Feast of All Saints All Hallows Feast Type: Solemnity; Holy Day of Obligation Prayer: Litany of the Saints Observed by: 1st of November in the Western Christianity 1st Sunday of November after Pentecost in the Eastern Christianity Observances: Church services Hallowe’en Introduction All Saints Day celebration is commonly known as the All Hallows, The Feast of All Saints, or the Solemnity of All Saints.

The special day is a solemnity which is being celebrated yearly on 1st of November by the people of Western Christianity as well as on the first Sunday of November after the Pentecost by the people of Eastern Christianity. It is celebrated to honour all of the saints worldwide whether they are known or unknown. It is the 2nd day of Hallowmas which starts during the sunrise in the month of November and ends during the sunset. It is the spiritual celebration which is celebrated with a great zeal and courage a day before the All Souls’ Day. Why All Saints Day is Celebrated According to the Western Christian religion, the All Saints Day is celebrated at 1st of November to memorialize all those who have achieved the saintly vision in the Heaven. The day is celebrated as a national holiday in most of the traditional Catholic countries. The people at Catholic Church and other Anglican churches, remember the realistic personalities who have been purified and reached to heaven. The Christians who involve in the All Saints’ Day celebration believes that there is a type of spiritual bond which exists between the people in the Church suffering and people in the heaven means in the Church triumphant as well as the living means in the Church militant.

The people of other Christian traditions celebrate and respond to this day other different ways. Such as the people related to the Methodist Church, commemorate and honor the dead members of neighboring congregation. According to the Eastern Christian religion, in the 19th century, all saints had attained immense fame during the time of the Byzantine Emperor named Leo VI “the Wise”. His wife named Empress Theophano (who had lived a religious life) is commemorated at 16th of December. The husband of her had built a church in the memory of her after her death in order to dedicate her in 893. It is considered that he got banned doing so, that’s why he determined to bestow the same to All Saints. She is too honored and remembered during the celebration of All Saints Day. Traditionally the celebration of the day was expanded by the Leo. The Sunday, after the Pentecost Sunday means 50 days after the Easter is set for the remembrance of all the local respected saints like All Saints of America and All Saints of Mount Athos etc. Accordingly, the 3rd Sunday after Pentecost is observed to commemorate the All Saints of St. Petersburg and New Martyrs of Turkish Yoke etc.

The History and Origin of All Saints Day In the earlier centuries, the day was celebrated during Easter season even in the Eastern Churches (both Catholic and Orthodox) people celebrate it like that. The current date means 1st November was first organized as a celebration of All Saints Day by the Pope Gregory III during 731-741 only for the diocese of Rome and it was extended for the entire Church by the Pope Gregory IV during 827-844. All Saints Day is celebrated by all the Christian saints specially who have no their own particular feast days in Protestant, Roman Catholic, Anglican and other churches. The exact date of the origin of All Saints Day cannot be sketched with firmness as it is observed on different days in various places. However, at some places it is believes that it has origin in the pagan observation of 13th of May (means the Feast of Lemures). According to the Liturgiologists, it is believed that the origin of the day was Lemuria festival. The celebration of the day was set at 1st of November by the declaration of the Louis, the religious, and with the consent of all bishops.

The day is celebrated at 1st Sunday of November in the United Methodist Church to remember all the Saints means those who died as well as members of neighboring church congregation. There is a tradition of lighting a candle by the Acolyte and calling out the each person’s name by the clergy during the celebration. Chanting of prayers and other readings take place in the event. People at Lutheran churches concurrently celebrate All Saints Day and Reformation Day on the Sunday. According to the Catholicism, there is a holy day of obligation at All Saints Day in most of the countries such as England, Wales and people celebrate it by gathering together. Custom of Celebrating All Saints day People visit cemeteries Offering Soul Cakes to the poor All Saints Day is celebrated at a graveyard in the Sanok by flowering and lighting the candles to offer honour to the deceased relatives. In the Mexico, Portugal, Spain and other countries offerings are made by the people on this day. There is a traditional performance of playing the Don Juan Tenorio in the Spain takes place. Children in Portuguese celebrate it through the Pao-por-Deus tradition in which they go door-to-door and receive nuts, cakes and pomegranates.

Traditional celebration takes place by the Filipinos in which they visit the problems of relatives of deceased person, offer prayers, flowers, lit candles and etc. Which is now has been replaced by them as spending the day at graveyard near the loved ones. They sing song using musical instruments, burn fire crackers and do other rituals. People in France, Hungary, Argentina, Chile, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Malta, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Spain and America are used to offer flowers at the graves of relatives who died. In some countries people lit candles too. In some other English speaking countries the day is celebrated traditionally with the chant “For All the Saints” by the William Walsham How for which the special tune is “Sine Nomine” by the Ralph Vaughan Williams. Another tune which is commonly sung during this day is “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God”. What Do People Do On All Saints Day It is celebrated by the Christians in most of the countries all over the world. In some countries people make offerings of flowers to the graves of their dead relatives. Whereas, people from other countries lit candles at the graves of their deceased relatives.

In some parts of the Asia like Philippines, people clean and repair the graves as well as put down flowers and lit candles. In the France, the day is celebrated in the church to memorialize all the saints however, in the evening their focus twirls towards the dead. At this day, cemeteries are cleaned up, decorated and getting packed with people. At this day there is public holiday in most of the countries including Bolivia, Germany, Hungary, Parts of Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Liechtenstein, Croatia, France, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Chile, Sweden (1st Saturday of the November), The Philippines and Poland. The Symbols Associated with All Saints’ Day: The crown. Symbols and images of individual saints. Rayed Manus Dei (means the hand of God). Why Do Catholics Pray to Saints Catholics are used to pray to saints at All Saints Day. Actually they request to the saints to bless them by connecting them to the God as they more closer to the God. Catholics asks to saints in their prayer to pray for them to the God or to lead them more closer to the Christ.

Catholics understands that the saints who are in the heaven are close to the God and they are connected to the saints through the spiritual union. Thus praying means requesting to the saints is different from praying to the God. Catholics requests to the saints to message their prayer to the God quickly and easily instead of praying to the God directly. Author: Archana I am an Entrepreneur, a responsible mother of two, a good housewife and a hard working woman. I totally believe in hard work as where I am just because of that. It’s my great passion to be busy in my all time. I respect a person who is disciplined and respect others. Share This Post On All Saints' Day - All Saints' Day - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online Saints & Angels Day of the Dead All Saints' Day is a solemn holy day of the Catholic Church celebrated annually on November 1. The day is dedicated to the saints of the Church, that is, all those who have attained heaven. It should not be confused with All Souls' Day, which is observed on November 2, and is dedicated to those who have died and not yet reached heaven.

Although millions, or even billions of people may already be saints, All Saints' Day observances tend to focus on known saints --that is those recognized in the canon of the saints by the Catholic Church. All Saints' Day is also commemorated by members of the Eastern Orthodox Church as well as some protestant churches, such as Anglican, Lutheran and Anglican churches. Generally, All Saints' Day is a Catholic Holy Day of Obligation, meaning all Catholics are required to attend Mass on that day, unless they have an excellent excuse, such as serious illness. Other countries have different rules according to their national bishop's conferences. The bishops of each conference have the authority to amend the rules surrounding the obligation of the day. All Saints' Day was formally started by Pope Boniface IV, who consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to the Virgin Mary and all the Martyrs on May 13 in 609 AD. Boniface IV also established All Souls' Day, which follows All Saints. The choice of the day may have been intended to co-opt the pagan holiday "Feast of the Lamures," a day which pagans used to placate the restless spirits of the dead.

The holy day was eventually established on November 1 by Pope Gregory III in the mid-eighth century as a day dedicated to the saints and their relics. The May 13 celebration was subsequently abandoned. In Ireland, the Church celebrated All Saints' Day on April 20, to avoid associating the day with the traditional harvest festivals and pagan feasts associated with Samhain, celebrated at the same time. Following the establishment of the Frankish Empire, and following the reign of Charlemagne, the holy day, which was already celebrated on November 1, became a holy day of obligation by decree of Pope Gregory IV and Louis the Pious, who was king over a portion of Charlemagne's former empire. Following the Protestant Reformation, many Protestants retained the holy day, although they dismissed the need to pray for the dead. Instead, the day has been used to commemorate those who have recently died, usually in the past year, and to remember the examples of those who lived holy lives. The Catholic practice however, celebrates all those who have entered heaven, including saints who are recognized by the Church and those who are not. Holy day customs vary around the world.

In the United States, the day before is Halloween and is usually celebrated by dressing in costumes with themes of death commonly associated. Children go door-to-door in costume, trick-or-treating, that is soliciting candy from their neighbors. The holiday has lost much of its connection to its religious origins. Although nearly everyone celebrates Halloween for the fun of the secular holiday, the following religious solemnity, is not widely practiced or acknowledged by most Americans unless they are Catholic. In other countries, such as Portugal, Spain and Mexico, traditional practices include performance of the play, "Don Juan Tenorio" and offerings made to the dead. All Saints' Say occurs on the same day as the Mexican "Dide los Innocentes" a day dedicated to deceased children. Across much of Europe, the day is commemorated with offerings of flowers left on the graves of the dead. In Eastern Europe, candles are lit on graves instead of offerings of flowers. In some places, such as the Philippines, graves can be painted and repaired by family members. Many of these practices blur the distinction between All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.

These celebrations often blur the distinction between All Saints' Day, which is properly dedicated to those who are in heaven, and All Souls' Day, on which prayers are offered for all those who have died, but have not yet reached heaven. In Mexico, the Day of the Dead holy days extend from October 31 through November 2. It is important to remember these basic facts: Halloween is a secular holiday that comes the night before All Saints' Day. All Saints' Day is on November 1, and it is a Holy Day of Obligation. All Souls' Day in on November 2, and it is NOT a Holy Day of Obligation. The Day of the Dead is a Mexican holiday that has spread in popularity into parts of the United States and across Latin America. It is celebrated from October 31 through November 2, to coincide with both the American tradition and the Catholic holy days. Those three days are dedicated to all of the dead.to all of the dead.

More about All Saints' Day from Wikipedia All Saints' Day (in the Roman Catholic Church officially the Solemnity of All Saints and also called All Hallows or Hallowmas[1]), often shortened to All Saints, is a solemnity celebrated on 1 November by parts of Western Christianity, and on the first Sunday after Pentecost in Eastern Christianity, in honor of all the saints, known and unknown. In Western Christian theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. It is a national holiday in many historically Catholic countries. In the Roman Catholic Church, the next day, All Souls' Day, specifically commemorates the departed faithful who have not yet been purified and reached heaven. Catholics celebrate All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day in the fundamental belief that there is a prayerful spiritual communion between those in the state of grace who have died and are either being purified in purgatory or are in heaven (the 'church penitent' and the 'church triumphant', respectively), and the 'church militant' who are the living. Other Christian traditions define, remember and respond to the saints in different ways. In the East Eastern Orthodox icon of All Saints.

Christ is enthroned in heaven surrounded by the ranks of angels and saints. At the bottom is Paradise with the bosom of Abraham (left), and the Good Thief (right). Eastern Christians of the Byzantine Tradition follow the earlier tradition of commemorating all saints collectively on the first Sunday after Pentecost, All Saints' Sunday. The feast of All Saints achieved great prominence in the ninth century, in the reign of the Byzantine Emperor, Leo VI "the Wise" (886.911). His wife, Empress Theophano.commemorated on December 16.lived a devout life. After her death in 893,[2] her husband built a church, intending to dedicate it to her. When he was forbidden to do so, he decided to dedicate it to "All Saints," so that if his wife were in fact one of the righteous, she would also be honored whenever the feast was celebrated.[3] According to tradition, it was Leo who expanded the feast from a commemoration of All Martyrs to a general commemoration of All Saints, whether martyrs or not. This Sunday marks the close of the Paschal season.

To the normal Sunday services are added special scriptural readings and hymns to all the saints (known and unknown) from the Pentecostarion. The Sunday following All Saints' Sunday.the second Sunday after Pentecost.is set aside as a commemoration of all locally venerated saints, such as "All Saints of America", "All Saints of Mount Athos", etc. The third Sunday after Pentecost may be observed for even more localized saints, such as "All Saints of St. Petersburg", or for saints of a particular type, such as "New Martyrs of the Turkish Yoke." In addition to the Sundays mentioned above, Saturdays throughout the year are days for general commemoration of all saints, and special hymns to all saints are chanted from the Octoechos. In the West The Western Christian holiday of All Saints' Day falls on November 1, followed by All Souls' Day on November 2, and is a Holy Day of Obligation in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.

The origin of the festival of All Saints celebrated in the West dates to May 13, 609 or 610, when Pope Boniface IV consecrated the Pantheon at Rome to the Blessed Virgin and all the martyrs; the feast of the dedicatio Sanctae Mariae ad Martyres has been celebrated at Rome ever since. There is evidence that from the fifth through the seventh centuries there existed in certain places and at sporadic intervals a feast date 13 May to celebrate the holy martyrs.[4] The origin of All Saints' Day cannot be traced with certainty, and it has been observed on various days in different places. However, there are some who maintain the belief that it has origins in the pagan observation of 13 May, the Feast of the Lemures, in which the malevolent and restless spirits of the dead were propitiated. Liturgiologists base the idea that this Lemuria festival was the origin of that of All Saints on their identical dates and on the similar theme of "all the dead".[5] The feast of All Saints, on its current date, is traced to the foundation by Pope Gregory III (731.741) of an oratory in St.

Peter's for the relics "of the holy apostles and of all saints, martyrs and confessors, of all the just made perfect who are at rest throughout the world", with the day moved to 1 November and the 13 May feast suppressed.[6] This usually fell within a few weeks of the Celtic holiday of Samhain, which had a theme similar to the Roman festival of Lemuria, but which was also a harvest festival. The Irish, having celebrated Samhain in the past, did not celebrate All Hallows Day on this November 1 date, as extant historical documents attest that the celebration in Ireland took place in the spring: "...the Felire of Oengus and the Martyrology of Tallaght prove that the early medieval churches [in Ireland] celebrated the feast of All Saints on April 20."[7] A November festival of all the saints was already widely celebrated on November 1 in the days of Charlemagne. It was made a day of obligation throughout the Frankish empire in 835, by a decree of Louis the Pious, issued "at the instance of Pope Gregory IV and with the assent of all the bishops", which confirmed its celebration on November 1.

The octave was added by Pope Sixtus IV (1471.1484).[8] The festival was retained after the Reformation in the calendar of the Anglican Church and in many Lutheran churches. In the Lutheran churches, such as the Church of Sweden, it assumes a role of general commemoration of the dead. In the Swedish calendar, the observance takes place on the Saturday between October 31 and November 6. In many Lutheran Churches, it is moved to the first Sunday of November. It is also celebrated by other Protestants of the English tradition, such as the United Church of Canada, the Methodist churches, and the Wesleyan Church.[9] Protestants generally regard all true Christian believers as saints and if they observe All Saints Day at all they use it to remember all Christians both past and present. In the United Methodist Church, All Saints' Day is celebrated on the first Sunday in November. It is held, not only to remember Saints, but also to remember all those that have died that were members of the local church congregation.[10] In some congregations, a candle is lit by the Acolyte as each person's name is called out by the clergy.

Prayers and responsive readings may accompany the event. Often, the names of those who have died in the past year are afixed to a memorial plaque. In many Lutheran churches, All Saints' Day and Reformation Day are observed concurrently on the Sunday before or after those dates, given Reformation Day is observed in Protestant Churches on October 31. Typically, Martin Luther's A Mighty Fortress is Our God is sung during the service. Besides discussing Luther's role in the Protestant Reformation, some recognition of the prominent early leaders of the Reformed tradition, such as John Calvin and John Knox, occurs. The observance of Reformation Day may be immediately followed by a reading of those members of the local congregation who have died in the past year in observance of All Saints' Day. Otherwise, the recognition of deceased church members occurs at another designated portion of the service. Roman Catholic Obligation In the Roman Catholic Church, All Saints' Day is a Holy Day of Obligation in many (but not all) countries, meaning going to Mass on the date is required unless one has a good reason to be excused from that obligation, such as illness.

However, in a number of countries that do list All Saints' Day as a Holy Day of Obligation, including England & Wales, the solemnity of All Saints' Day is transferred to the adjacent Sunday if 1 November falls on a Monday or a Saturday, while in the same circumstances in the United States the Solemnity is still celebrated on November 1 but the obligation to attend Mass is abrogated. Customs All Saints' Day at a cemetery in O.wi.cim, Poland, 1 November 1984 In Portugal, Spain, and Mexico, offerings (Portuguese: oferendas, Spanish: ofrendas) are made on this day. In Spain, the play Don Juan Tenorio is traditionally performed. In Mexico, All Saints Day coincides with the celebration of "DĂ­de los Inocentes" (Day of the Innocents), the first day of the Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos) celebration, honoring deceased children and infants. In Portugal, children celebrate the PĂŁpor-Deus tradition, and go door to door where they receive cakes, nuts and pomegranates. This only occurs in some areas around Lisbon.

In Austria, Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Portugal, Spain, and American Cities such as New Orleans people take flowers to the graves of dead relatives. In Poland, the Czech Republic, Sweden, Finland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Croatia, Austria, Romania, Moldova, Hungary and Catholic parts of Germany, the tradition is to light candles and visit the graves of deceased relatives. In the Philippines, this day, called "Undas", "Todos los Santos" (literally "All Saints"), and sometimes "Araw ng mga Patay" (approximately "Day of the dead") is observed as All Souls' Day. This day and the one before and one after it is spent visiting the graves of deceased relatives, where prayers and flowers are offered, candles are lit and the graves themselves are cleaned, repaired and repainted. In English-speaking countries, the festival is traditionally celebrated with the hymn "For All the Saints" by William Walsham How. The most familiar tune for this hymn is Sine Nomine by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Catholics generally celebrate with a day of rest consisting of avoiding physical exertion.

Notes ^ "Hallows" meaning "saints," and "mas" meaning "Mass"; the preceding evening (Halloween) is the "Vigil or Eve of All Hallows". ^ The date in Vita Euthymii, not printed until 1888 "makes it seem practically (though not absolutely) certain that she died on 10 Nov. 893". Glanville Downey, "The Church of All Saints (Church of St. Theophano) near the Church of the Holy Apostles at Constantinople" Dumbarton Oaks Papers, Vol. 9/10, (1956:301-305). ^ Downey 1956. ^ C. Smith The New Catholic Encyclopedia 1967: s.v. "Feast of All Saints", p. 318. ^ For example, Violet Alford ("The Cat Saint", Folklore 52.3 [September 1941:161-183] p. 181 note 56) observes that "Saints were often confounded with the Lares or Dead.

Repasts for both were prepared in early Christian times, and All Saints' Day was transferred in 835 to November 1st from one of the days in May which were the old Lemuralia"; Alford notes Pierre Saintyves, Les saints successeurs des dieux, Paris 1906 (sic, i.e. 1907). ^ "All Saints Day," The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church, 3rd edition, ed. E. A. Livingstone (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997), 41-42; The New Catholic Encyclopedia, eo.loc. ^ Hutton, Ronald (1996). Stations of the Sun: A History of the Ritual Year in Britain. New York: Oxford Paperbacks. ISBN 0-19-285448-8. ^ The Catholic Encyclopedia (New York, Robert Appleton Company, 1907), s.v. "All Saints' Day" (see External links, below).

^ Religions in Canada All Saints Day : A Christian Festival celebrated every year on 1st November Quick Facts : All Saints' Day Date: Nov 01, 2017 Also Called: All Hallows, All-Hallomas Celebrations: Cleaning the graves, Offering flowers and light candles on the graves iImage Credit: wikiPedia All Saints' Day is a Christian festival, celebrated to pay tribute to all the saints. The celebration day may vary from place to place but the motto remains the same. Western Christianity celebrates this day on 1st November while the Eastern Christianity celebrates on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Another name for All Saints' Day is All Hallows' Day, All-Hallomas or All Hallows Tide. Offering flowers and lighting candles on the graves is a very common practice on All Saints' Day. Some European and Latin American countries such as Portugal, Spain and Mexico, make offerings on this day. It is also a tradition in many countries such as Hungary, Italy and Belgium to visit the graves of dead relatives and bring flowers to the graves on this day.

In some other parts of the Europe such as Romania, Austria, Poland, Croatia, and Austria people visit graves of their departed relatives and light candles on top. Some Asian countries celebrate All Saints' Day. In the Philippines, for example, people make repairs to or clean the graves while visiting the graves of their deceased relatives. In France, the All Saints' Day celebration begins on November 1st. It begins with church services that include special prayers in memory of all the Saints with the focus being turned towards the dead by the time evening sets in. People from all over the country gather around the graves of their deceased relatives for decorating and cleaning the graves and for lighting candles on top of them. All Saints' Day is closely connected with All Souls' Day which is held on the November 2nd each year. This day is devoted to praying for the souls of the diseased who are not yet glorified. Even though All Saints' Day is celebrated in many countries of the world it is not considered a public holiday in most of these countries. It is said that All Saints' Day can be traced back to the Greek Christians in the fourth century when they participated in a festival in tribute to all martyrs and Saints on the first Sunday after Pentecost.

Other sources suggest that the tribute to the "All Martyrs" can be traced back as early as 270 CE. Although Pope Gregory IV officially made All Saints' Day a holiday in 835 CE, no one has confirmed the exact date of when or where this custom first started. It is believed that the date of November 1st was chose to replace the Festival of the Dead which is primarily celebrated by the Pagan belief. All Saints' Day was later tied with All Souls Day in 993 CE in Cluny at the monastery. These two festivals were specifically created to pay tribute to deceased relatives and loved ones and rapidly gained popularity amongst Christians all over the world. All Saints' Day Observances All Saints' Day 2017, 2018 - CalendarDate.com Winter All Saints' Day 2017, 2018 All Saints' Day is held on November 1 each year and celebrates all the Saints especially the Saints who are not honored on other days of the year.

Celebration\ Observance All Saints day also known as All Hallows, Solemnity of All Saints and Feast of All Saints is celebrated November 1st in the West and the first Sunday after Pentecost in the East. It honors all the Saints and often is celebrated through a feast. The day celebrates that there is a spiritual connection between those in heaven and the living. All Saints' Day is not a national federal holiday but is and observance for Christians to recognize all the Saints in the church. History Pope Gregory IV in 837 made all Saints' Day an official holiday. There is speculation about the event being held on November 1, which is the same day as the pagan Festival of the Dead, which would compete with All Saints' Day. Others say, All Saints' Day got its start back in the fourth century where Greek Christians celebrated a festival on the first Sunday after Pentecost in honor of Saints. Today it is a nationally celebrated holiday. Days till All Saints Day 2017 There are 286 days until the celebration/observance of All Saints Day 2017.

All Saints' Day in the United States Home Calendar Holidays the United States All Saints' Day All Saints' Day in the United States Many Catholic churches in the United States celebrate All Saints' Day to honor all the saints, particularly those who do not have their own special feast day, on November 1. On All Saints' Day some people take flowers to the graves of their loved ones. On All Saints' Day some people take flowers to the graves of their loved ones. ©iStockphoto.com/Wojciech Krusinski What Do People Do? All Saints' Day is also known as All Hallows Tide, All-Hallomas, or All Hallows' Day, and it's celebrated in many areas of the United States, especially where there are large Roman Catholic populations. In New Orleans, for example, people gather in local cemeteries and decorate the graves with flowers. The descendants of French Canadian settlers around St Martinsville, Louisiana, observe this day in the traditional French manner by laying wreaths and bouquets and lighting candles on even the most obscure graves.

All Saints' Day, which is celebrated globally , is closely tied with All Souls’ Day , which was first instituted at the monastery in Cluny, France in 993 CE and quickly spread among Christians. Some eastern churches in the United States celebrated All Saints' Day on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Day After Halloween All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day are also closely linked with Halloween , which is a shortened for the name “All Hallows' Eve”. In the United Methodist Church, All Saints' Day is observed on the first Sunday in November to remember deceased members of the local church congregation. A candle is lit as each person's name is called out, followed by a prayer offered for each soul. Many Latin American communities in the United States hold celebrations around November 1 and 2, linking with All Saints’ Day and All Souls' Day (November 2). These celebrations are part of the Day of the Dead, also known as Día de los Muertos. Public Life All Saints’ Day is not a federal public holiday in the United States.

Background According to some sources, the idea for All Saints' Day goes back to the fourth century when the Greek Christians kept a festival on the first Sunday after Pentecost (in late May or early June) in honor of all martyrs and saints. Other sources say that a commemoration of “All Martyrs” began to be celebrated as early as 270 CE, but no specific month or date is recorded. Pope Gregory IV made All Saints' Day an authorized holiday in 837 CE. It is speculated that the chosen date for the event, November 1, may have been an attempt to supplant pagan festivals that occurred around the same time. Symbols Symbols commonly associated with All Saints’ Day are: A sheaf of wheat. Rayed Manus Dei (hand of God). The crown. Halloween and All Saints Day Halloween and All Saints Day Fr. William Saunders Q: What are the origins of All Saints Day and All Souls Day? Are these linked with paganism and Halloween? Both the feast of All Saints and the feast of All Souls evolved in the life of the Church independently of paganism and Halloween. Let us first address the feast of All Saints.

The exact origins of this celebration are uncertain, although, after the legalization of Christianity in A.D. 313, a common commemoration of the saints, especially the martyrs, appeared in various areas throughout the Church. For instance in the East, the city of Edessa celebrated this feast on May 13; the Syrians, on the Friday after Easter; and the city of Antioch, on the first Sunday after Pentecost. Both St. Ephrem (d. 373) and St. John Chrysostom (d. 407) attest to this feast day in their preaching. In the West, a commemoration for all the saints also was celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost. The primary reason for establishing a common feast day was because of the desire to honor the great number of martyrs, especially during the persecution of Emperor Diocletion (284-305), the worst and most extensive of the persecutions. Quite simply, there were not enough days of the year for a feast day for each martyr and many of them died in groups. A common feast day for all saints, therefore, seemed most appropriate.

In 609, the Emperor Phocas gave the Pantheon in Rome to Pope Boniface IV, who rededicated it on May 13 under the title St. Maria ad Martyres (or St. Mary and All Martyrs). Whether the Holy Father purposefully chose May 13 because of the date of the popular celebration already established in the East or whether this was just a happy coincidence is open to debate. The designation of November 1 as the feast of All Saints occurred over time. Pope Gregory III (731-741) dedicated an oratory in the original St. Peter’s Basilica in honor of all the saints on November 1 (at least according to some accounts), and this date then became the official date for the celebration of the feast of All Saints in Rome. St. Bede (d. 735) recorded the celebration of All Saints Day on November 1 in England, and such a celebration also existed in Salzburg, Austria. Ado of Vienne (d. 875) recounted how Pope Gregory IV asked King Louis the Pious (778-840) to proclaim November 1 as All Saints Day throughout the Holy Roman Empire.

Sacramentaries of the 9th and 10th centuries also placed the feast of All Saints on the liturgical calendar on November 1. According to an early Church historian, John Beleth (d. 1165), Pope Gregory IV (827-844) officially declared November 1 the feast of All Saints, transferring it from May 13. However, Sicard of Cremona (d. 1215) recorded that Pope Gregory VII (1073-85) finally suppressed May 13 and mandated November 1 as the date to celebrate the feast of All Saints. In all, we find the Church establishing a liturgical feast day in honor of the saints independent of any pagan influence. Now for the Halloween connection: November 1 marked Samhain, the beginning of the Celtic winter.

(The Celts lived as early as 2,000 years ago in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and northern France.) Samhain, for whom the feast was named, was the Celtic lord of death, and his name literally meant “summer’s end.” Since winter is the season of cold, darkness and death, the Celts soon made the connection with human death. The eve of Samhain, October 31, was a time of Celtic pagan sacrifice, and Samhain allowed the souls of the dead to return to their earthly homes that evening. Ghosts, witches, goblins and elves came to harm the people, particularly those who had inflicted harm on them in this life. Cats, too, were considered sacred because they had once been human beings who had been changed as a punishment for their evil deeds on this earth. To protect themselves from marauding evil spirits on the eve of Samhain, the people extinguished their hearth fires, and the Druids (the priests and spiritual teachers of the Celts) built a huge new year’s bonfire of sacred oak branches. The Druids offered burnt sacrifices — crops, animals, even humans — and told fortunes of the coming year by examining the burned remains.

People sometimes wore costumes of animal heads and skins. From this new fire, the home hearths were again ignited. Particular ethnic groups developed their own lore, which was merged with the celebration. In Ireland, people held a parade in honor of Muck Olla, a god. They followed a leader dressed in a white robe with a mask from the head of an animal and begged for food. (Ireland is also the source of the jack-o-lantern fable: A man named Jack was not able to enter heaven because of his miserliness, and he could not enter hell because he played practical jokes on the devil; so he was condemned to walk the earth with his lantern until judgment day.) The Scots walked through fields and villages carrying torches and lit bonfires to ward off witches and other evil spirits. In Wales, every person placed a marked stone in the huge bonfire. If a person’s stone could not be found the next morning, he would die within a year. Besides the Celtic traditions in place, the Roman conquest of Britain in A.D. 43 brought two other pagan feasts: Feralia was held in late October to honor the dead.

Another autumn festival honored Pomona, the goddess of fruits and trees; probably through this festival, apples became associated with Halloween. Elements of these Roman celebrations were combined with the Celtic Samhain. With the spread of Christianity and the establishment of All Saints Day, some of these pagan customs remained in the English speaking world for All Hallows Eve (or Halloween, All Saints Eve), perhaps at first more out of superstition, and later, more out of fun without any real tie to paganism. For this reason, little ones (and some big ones) still dress in a variety of costumes and pretend for the evening to be ghosts, witches, vampires, monsters, Ninjas, pirates and so on, without any thought of paganism. Nevertheless, All Saints Day clearly arose from genuine a Christian devotion independent of paganism. Editor’s note: This article courtesy of the Arlington Catholic Herald . All Saints' Day in Spain - Dia de Todos los Santos | don Quijote “Nadie más muerto que el olvidado” (One is not dead until forgotten) Every year on November 1st, Spain celebrates a ritual holiday of remembrance and honor of their deceased relatives known as Dia de Todos los Santos (All Saints' Day).

Observed nationwide, many families, especially those of the older generations who are more akin to following traditions, gather in the cemeteries to regale their deceased loved ones with a visit as a reminder that they are not forgotten. Some even visit a few days prior to November 1st to clean the graves and have them ready for the big day. The traditional thing to do on November 1st is to purchase flowers, especially chrysanthemums and present them as gifts to their loved ones. It is the day of the year when the most flowers are sold, and the cemeteries are filled with colour from every type of flower imaginable. A beautiful sight to see, indeed! Churches also hold mass in memories of those deceased to supposedly shorten their time spent in purgatory. Despite the feeling of sadness one would think should pertain to Dia de Todos los Santos, this day is not just about mourning the loss of loved ones. It is also a day to celebrate life. Popular activities for such purpose are eating traditional sweets (more on that below) and participating in family-friendly activities such as going to see José Zorilla's 1844 play “Don Juan Tenorio”, traditionally staged in theatres across the country.

The character of the play is closely related to the dead. Another activity, one especially popular in the north of Spain, is to head out to the streets or the countryside for a traditional “castañada”. The castañada consists of townsfolk gathering for an outside get-together and keep warm by eating the “castañas” (chestnuts) that someone roasts and sells in the most traditional of ways: in a small bonfire or using a modern grill. Traditional Spanish Pastries However, Dia de Todos los Santos can best be defined as the day in which almost all of Spain enjoys eating the mouthwatering delicacies known as “Buñuelos de Viento” (wind fritters) and “Huesos de Santo” (Saint's Bones); with the exception of Catalunya, the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands, who opt to savor the Catalan pastries of “Panellets”. It is common to see long lines outside of Spanish bakeries as everyone wanst to take home a kilo or two of sweet yummies.

Buñuelos de Viento No one knows exactly when these sweetened dough fritters, which are usually filled with cream, chocolate, pudding and anything else, began to be elaborated. But given that the Royal chef of Spanish King Felipe II made some references to this pastry in some of his recipes towards the beginning of the XVII century, has raised them to be one of the traditional culinary desserts to celebrate Dia de Todos los Santos, as tradition states that when you eat a buñuelo , a soul is released from purgatory. Huesos de Santo These oddly named sweets, which are made of marzipan dough rolled into thick thumb-size tubes, do not actually resemble a bone in shape, so do not fret over its unappealing name. Its name derives from the final coloring it acquires after its baked in a syrup covering: a bone-like beige hue. Huesos de Santo were also traditionally filled with a sweet egg yolk concoction, but nowadays are elaborated with all types of filling (from chocolate to coconut shavings to marmalade, banana, etc) to being sold in an assortment of colors that hint away at its flavor.

Panellets These typical Catalan sweets, made from almonds, potato, sugar and pine nuts are absolutely delicious! You'll see them in the baker's shops days before El Día de Todos los Santos and are best enjoyed with a good bottle of muscatel wine! Contact us Day of the Dead - Day Of The Dead - Saints & Angels - Catholic Online Day Of The Dead Day of the Dead Day of the Dead or Dia de los Muertos is a series of commemorative days dedicated to those who have died. It is celebrated generally between Halloween, Oct. 31 through Nov. 2, and coincides with the Catholic holy days of All Saints (Nov. 1) and All Souls (Nov. 2). Day of the Dead is actually divided into two distinct holidays, the first being Dide los Inocentes, which is dedicated to children on Nov. 1, and Dide los Muertos on Nov. 2, which is the actual Day of the Dead. Both days taken together are collectively referred to as the Day of the Dead, and celebrations can begin as early as Halloween (Oct. 31). In recent years, the tradition has spread into North America, particularly into communities with large Mexican and Latin American populations.

The holiday blends with celebrations across several nations and cultures and draws upon traditions found in other cultures, however the holiday is largely a Mexican development. Families often come together over this period and preparations can be made during the entire year leading up to the Day of the Dead. This is a solemn occasion, with few actual festivities. Instead, people visit and repair graves of their dearly departed. It is common to light candles, leave offerings of prepared foods, often a favorite meal, and to pray and play music. Private altars are built as focal points for small, private religious observances. Small parties, or wakes, can be held in conjunction with the holidays. Celebrations can sometimes take a humorous tone, particularly if the deceased relative was known to enjoy humor. Poems can be read and public morality plays are sometimes performed. Parents of deceased children commonly leave offerings of toys on the Day of the Innocents. Small offerings of alcohol are sometimes left for adults. It is easy to see why these celebrations can be heartbreaking, even to outsiders. The skull is a common symbol of the holiday and it is common for women to paint all or one-half of their face with a skull.

The half-skull painted on the face, particularly of a youthful woman, represents the brief transition between life and death. The holiday itself has multiple traditional origins, chiefly Catholic. Catholics believe that the deceased do not always enter directly into heaven or hell upon their death, but instead may enter into purgatory, a sort of holding space, where they are cleansed of their sins before they can enter heaven. People who die in a state of mortal sin go directly to hell, by virtue of their choice, while those who die without sin may go directly to heaven. Purgatory is for those who have died in a state of sin, but not mortal sin. These people must wait in purgatory until they are cleansed of their sins by the prayers of the faithful on Earth. Day of the Dead is an occasion to offer those prayers. This is largely redundant with the Catholic holy day of All Souls. Day of the Dead is an occasion to pray for these departed people in purgatory. Many Mexicans also trace their celebrations back to ancient Mesoamerican cultures. The Aztec, in particular, would celebrate their dead for the entire month of August. Families may carry on celebrations throughout the year, long after Day of the Dead has ended.

It is common for families to maintain small, private altars at home and they may create makeshift shrines dedicated to their dearly departed. Pictures, candles and flowers commonly adorn these shrines. Even public schools participate with altars being prepared at schools and the children decorating them with mementoes of the dearly departed and decorations. Small alters can even be found in government offices across Mexico. The holiday is seen both as a religious devotion and a source of national pride. It has spread into other countries, like the United States, partly as an expression of Mexican heritage. In the United States, schools and colleges will often have small festivals, centered on Mexican culture and arts. More about Day of the Dead from Wikipedia Day of the Dead (Spanish: Dí de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died. It is particularly celebrated in Mexico, where it attains the quality of a National Holiday. The celebration takes place on November 1st and 2nd, in connection with the Catholic holidays of All Saints' Day (November 1) and All Souls' Day (November 2).

Traditions connected with the holiday include building private altars honoring the deceased using sugar skulls, marigolds, and the favorite foods and beverages of the departed and visiting graves with these as gifts. Scholars trace the origins of the modern Mexican holiday to indigenous observances dating back hundreds of years and to an Aztec festival dedicated to a goddess called Mictecacihuatl. In Brazil, Dia de Finados is a public holiday that many Brazilians celebrate by visiting cemeteries and churches. In Spain, there are festivals and parades, and, at the end of the day, people gather at cemeteries and pray for their dead loved ones. Similar observances occur elsewhere in Europe, and similarly themed celebrations appear in many Asian and African cultures. Observance in Mexico Origins The Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico can be traced back to the indigenous cultures. Rituals celebrating the deaths of ancestors have been observed by these civilizations perhaps for as long as 2,500.3,000 years.[1] In the pre-Hispanic era, it was common to keep skulls as trophies and display them during the rituals to symbolize death and rebirth.

The festival that became the modern Day of the Dead fell in the ninth month of the Aztec calendar, about the beginning of August, and was celebrated for an entire month. The festivities were dedicated to the god[2] known as the "Lady of the Dead", corresponding to the modern Catrina. In most regions of Mexico, November 1 honors children and infants, whereas deceased adults are honored on November 2. This is indicated by generally referring to November 1 mainly as DĂ­de los Inocentes ("Day of the Innocents") but also as DĂ­de los Angelitos ("Day of the Little Angels") and November 2 as DĂ­de los Muertos or DĂ­de los Difuntos ("Day of the Dead").[3] Beliefs Sculpture with skeletons made for Day of the Dead at the Museo de Arte Popular, Mexico City. People go to cemeteries to be with the souls of the departed and build private altars containing the favorite foods and beverages as well as photos and memorabilia of the departed. The intent is to encourage visits by the souls, so that the souls will hear the prayers and the comments of the living directed to them.

Celebrations can take a humorous tone, as celebrants remember funny events and anecdotes about the departed.[3] Plans for the day are made throughout the year, including gathering the goods to be offered to the dead. During the three-day period, families usually clean and decorate graves;[2] most visit the cemeteries where their loved ones are buried and decorate their graves with ofrendas ("offerings"), which often include orange mexican marigolds (Tagetes erecta) called cempasĂşl (originally named cempoalxochitl, Nahuatl for "twenty flowers"). In modern Mexico, this name is sometimes replaced with the term Flor de Muerto ("Flower of the Dead"). These flowers are thought to attract souls of the dead to the offerings. Catrinas, one of the most popular figures of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. Toys are brought for dead children (los angelitos, or "the little angels"), and bottles of tequila, mezcal or pulque or jars of atole for adults. Families will also offer trinkets or the deceased's favorite candies on the grave.

Ofrendas are also put in homes, usually with foods such as candied pumpkin, pan de muerto ("bread of the dead"), and sugar skulls and beverages such as atole. The ofrendas are left out in the homes as a welcoming gesture for the deceased.[2] Some people believe the spirits of the dead eat the "spiritual essence" of the ofrendas food, so even though the celebrators eat the food after the festivities, they believe it lacks nutritional value. Pillows and blankets are left out so that the deceased can rest after their long journey. In some parts of Mexico, such as the towns of Mixquic, PĂˇcuaro and Janitzio, people spend all night beside the graves of their relatives. In many places, people have picnics at the grave site as well. Some families build altars or small shrines in their homes;[2] these usually have the Christian cross, statues or pictures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, pictures of deceased relatives and other persons, scores of candles and an ofrenda. Traditionally, families spend some time around the altar, praying and telling anecdotes about the deceased.

In some locations, celebrants wear shells on their clothing, so that when they dance, the noise will wake up the dead; some will also dress up as the deceased. Public schools at all levels build altars with ofrendas, usually omitting the religious symbols. Government offices usually have at least a small altar, as this holiday is seen as important to the Mexican heritage. Those with a distinctive talent for writing sometimes create short poems, called calaveras ("skulls"), mocking epitaphs of friends, describing interesting habits and attitudes or funny anecdotes. This custom originated in the 18th or 19th century, after a newspaper published a poem narrating a dream of a cemetery in the future, "and all of us were dead", proceeding to "read" the tombstones. Newspapers dedicate calaveras to public figures, with cartoons of skeletons in the style of the famous calaveras of JosĂ©uadalupe Posada, a Mexican illustrator. Theatrical presentations of Don Juan Tenorio by JosĂ©orrilla (1817.1893) are also traditional on this day.

A common symbol of the holiday is the skull (colloquially called calavera), which celebrants represent in masks, called calacas (colloquial term for "skeleton"), and foods such as sugar or chocolate skulls, which are inscribed with the name of the recipient on the forehead. Sugar skulls are gifts that can be given to both the living and the dead. Other holiday foods include pan de muerto, a sweet egg bread made in various shapes from plain rounds to skulls and rabbits, often decorated with white frosting to look like twisted bones. JosĂ©uadalupe Posada created a famous print of a figure that he called La Calavera de la Catrina ("calavera of the female dandy") as a parody of a Mexican upper-class female. Posada's striking image of a costumed female with a skeleton face has become associated with the Day of the Dead, and Catrina figures often are a prominent part of modern Day of the Dead observances. Gran calavera elĂ©rica ("Grand electric skull") by JosĂ©uadalupe Posada, 1900.1913.

The traditions and activities that take place in celebration of the Day of the Dead are not universal and often vary from town to town. For example, in the town of PĂˇcuaro on the Lago de PĂˇcuaro in MichoacĂˇ the tradition is very different if the deceased is a child rather than an adult. On November 1 of the year after a child's death, the godparents set a table in the parents' home with sweets, fruits, pan de muerto, a cross, a rosary (used to ask the Virgin Mary to pray for them) and candles. This is meant to celebrate the child's life, in respect and appreciation for the parents. There is also dancing with colorful costumes, often with skull-shaped masks and devil masks in the plaza or garden of the town. At midnight on November 2, the people light candles and ride winged boats called mariposas (Spanish for "butterflies") to Janitzio, an island in the middle of the lake where there is a cemetery, to honor and celebrate the lives of the dead there. Families tidying and decorating graves at a cemetery in Almoloya del RĂ­in the State of Mexico.

In contrast, the town of Ocotepec, north of Cuernavaca in the State of Morelos, opens its doors to visitors in exchange for veladoras (small wax candles) to show respect for the recently deceased. In return, the visitors receive tamales and atole. This is only done by the owners of the house where somebody in the household has died in the previous year. Many people of the surrounding areas arrive early to eat for free and enjoy the elaborate altars set up to receive the visitors from MictlĂˇ In some parts of the country (especially the cities, where in recent years there are displaced other customs), children in costumes roam the streets, knocking on people's doors for a calaverita, a small gift of candies or money; they also ask passersby for it. This custom is similar to that of Halloween's trick-or-treating and is relatively recent. Some people believe that possessing Day of the Dead items can bring good luck. Many people get tattoos or have dolls of the dead to carry with them. They also clean their houses and prepare the favorite dishes of their deceased loved ones to place upon their altar or ofrenda.

Observances outside Mexico Day of the Dead altar in Atlanta in memory of Jennifer Ann Crecente, murdered at the age of 18 by her ex-boyfriend. San Francisco's annual Day of the Dead celebration in Garfield Square An altar in Los Angeles pays homage to "dead" TV shows, with traditional marigolds, sugar skulls and candles United States In many American communities with Mexican residents, Day of the Dead celebrations are held that are very similar to those held in Mexico. In some of these communities, such as in Texas[4] and Arizona,[5] the celebrations tend to be mostly traditional. For example, the All Souls Procession has been an annual Tucson event since 1990. The event combines elements of traditional Day of the Dead celebrations with those of pagan harvest festivals. People wearing masks carry signs honoring the dead and an urn in which people can place slips of paper with prayers on them to be burned.[6] In other communities, interactions between Mexican traditions and American culture are resulting in celebrations in which Mexican traditions are being extended to make artistic or sometimes political statements.

For example, in Los Angeles, California, the Self Help Graphics & Art Mexican-American cultural center presents an annual Day of the Dead celebration that includes both traditional and political elements, such as altars to honor the victims of the Iraq War highlighting the high casualty rate among Latino soldiers. An updated, inter-cultural version of the Day of the Dead is also evolving at Hollywood Forever Cemetery.[7] There, in a mixture of Mexican traditions and Hollywood hip, conventional altars are set up side-by-side with altars to Jayne Mansfield and Johnny Ramone. Colorful native dancers and music intermix with performance artists, while sly pranksters play on traditional themes. Similar traditional and inter-cultural updating of Mexican celebrations is occurring in San Francisco, for example, through the GalerĂ­de la Raza, SomArts Cultural Center, Mission Cultural Center, de Young Museum and altars at Garfield Square by the Marigold Project.[8] Oakland is home to Corazon Del Pueblo in the Fruitvale district.

Corazon Del Pueblo has a shop offering handcrafted Mexican gifts and a museum devoted to Day of the Dead artifacts.[9] In Missoula, Montana, skeletal celebrants on stilts, novelty bicycles, and skis parade through town.[10] It also occurs annually at historic Forest Hills Cemetery in Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood. Sponsored by Forest Hills Educational Trust and the folkloric performance group La PiĂ±, the Day of the Dead celebration celebrates the cycle of life and death. People bring offerings of flowers, photos, mementos, and food for their departed loved ones, which they place at an elaborately and colorfully decorated altar. A program of traditional music and dance also accompanies the community event. Latin America Guatemalan celebrations of the Day of the Dead are highlighted by the construction and flying of giant kites[11] in addition to the traditional visits to grave sites of ancestors. A big event also is the consumption of fiambre, which is made only for this day during the year. In Ecuador, the Day of the Dead is observed to some extent by all parts of society, though it is especially important to the indigenous Kichwa peoples who make up an estimated quarter of the population.

Indigena families gather together in the community cemetery with offerings of food for a day-long remembrance of their ancestors and lost loved ones. Ceremonial foods include colada morada, a spiced fruit porridge that derives its deep purple color from the Andean blackberry and purple maize. This is typically consumed with guagua de pan, a bread shaped like a swaddled infant, though variations include many pigs.the latter being traditional to the city of Loja. The bread, which is wheat flour-based today but was made with cornmeal in the pre-Columbian era, can be made savory with cheese inside or sweet with a filling of guava paste. These traditions have permeated into mainstream society as well, where food establishments add both colada morada and gaugua de pan to their menus for the season. Many non-indigenous Ecuadorians partake in visiting the graves of the deceased and preparing the traditional foods as well.[12] The Brazilian public holiday of Finados (Day of the Dead) is celebrated on November 2. Similar to other Day of the Dead celebrations, people go to cemeteries and churches with flowers, candles, and prayer. The celebration is intended to be positive to celebrate those who are deceased.

In Haiti, voodoo traditions mix with Roman Catholic observances as, for example, loud drums and music are played at all-night celebrations at cemeteries to waken Baron Samedi, the Loa of the dead, and his mischievous family of offspring, the Gede. Dia de los Ă±tas ("Day of the Skulls") is a festival celebrated in La Paz, Bolivia, on November 9. In pre-Columbian times, indigenous Andeans had a tradition of sharing a day with the bones of their ancestors on the third year after burial; however, only the skulls are used today. Traditionally, the skull of one or more family members are kept at home to watch over the family and protect them during the year. On November 9, the family crowns the skull with fresh flowers, sometimes also dressing it up in various garments, and makes offerings of cigarettes, coca leaves, alcohol, and various other items in thanks for the year's protection.

The skulls are also sometimes taken to the central cemetery in La Paz for a special Mass and blessing.[13][14][15] Europe In many countries with a Roman Catholic heritage, All Saints Day and All Souls Day have long been holidays in which people take the day off work, go to cemeteries with candles and flowers, and give presents to children, usually sweets and toys.[16] In Portugal and Spain, ofrendas ("offerings") are made on this day. In Spain, the play Don Juan Tenorio is traditionally performed. In Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Ireland, people bring flowers to the graves of dead relatives and say prayers over the dead. In Poland,[17] Slovakia,[18] Hungary,[19] Lithuania,[20] Croatia,[21] Slovenia,[22] Romania,[23] Austria, Germany, Sweden, Norway and Finland, the tradition is to light candles and visit the graves of deceased relatives. In Tyrol, cakes are left for them on the table, and the room kept warm for their comfort.

In Brittany, people flock to the cemeteries at nightfall to kneel, bareheaded, at the graves of their loved ones and to anoint the hollow of the tombstone with holy water or to pour libations of milk on it. At bedtime, the supper is left on the table for the souls.[24] A Mexican-style Day of the Dead has been celebrated in Prague, Czech Republic, as part of a promotion by the Mexican embassy. Local citizens join in a celebration of the Day of the Dead put on by a theatre group with masks, candles, and sugar skulls.[25] The Philippines and Oceania Flowers, including Mexican marigolds, used in the celebration of the Day of the Dead. In the Philippines, the holiday is called Todos Los Santos (All Saints Day), Undas (from Spanish andas, or possibly honra), or Araw ng mga Patay ("Day of the Dead"), and has more of a family reunion atmosphere.[26] The traditions were imported during the Philippines' Spanish colonial era. Tombs are cleaned or repainted, candles are lit, and flowers are offered. Entire families camp in cemeteries and sometimes spend a night or two near their relatives' tombs.

Card games, eating, drinking, singing and dancing are common activities in the cemetery. It is considered a very important holiday by many Filipinos (after Christmas and Holy Week), and additional days are normally given as special non-working holidays (but only November 1 is a regular holiday). Mexican-style Day of the Dead celebrations can also be found in Wellington, New Zealand, complete with altars celebrating the deceased with flowers and gifts.[27] Asia: Other similar traditions Many other cultures around the world have similar traditions of a day set aside to visit the graves of deceased family members. Often included in these traditions are celebrations, food and beverages, in addition to prayers and remembrances of the departed. The Bon Festival (O-bon (..?) or only Bon (.?) is a Japanese Buddhist holiday to honor the departed spirits of one's ancestors. (August) In Korea, Chuseok (.., ..) is a major traditional holiday, also called Hangawi. People go where the spirits of one's ancestors are enshrined and perform ancestral worship rituals early in the morning; they visit the tombs of immediate ancestors to trim plants, clean the area around the tomb, and offer food, drink, and crops to their ancestors.

The Ching Ming Festival (simplified Chinese: ...; traditional Chinese: ...; pinyin: q.ng mĂ­ jiĂ©em>) is a traditional Chinese festival usually occurring around April 5 of the Gregorian calendar. Along with Double Ninth Festival on the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese calendar, it is a time to tend to the graves of departed ones. In addition, in the Chinese tradition, the seventh month in the Chinese calendar is called the Ghost Month (..), in which ghosts and spirits come out from the underworld to visit earth. During the Nepali holiday of Gai Jatra ("Cow Pilgrimage"), every family who has lost a family member during the previous year makes a construction of bamboo branches, cloth, paper decorations and portraits of the deceased, called a gai. Traditionally, a cow leads the spirits of the dead into the next land. Depending on local custom, either an actual live cow or a construct representing a cow may be used.

The festival is also a time to dress up in costume, including costumes involving political comments and satire.[28] In some cultures in Africa, visits to the graves of ancestors, the leaving of food and gifts, and the asking of protection serve as important parts of traditional rituals. One example of this is the ritual that occurs just before the beginning of hunting season.[29] In some tribes of the Amazon, they believe that the dead return as flowers rather than butterflies. In popular culture Literature The novel Under the Volcano (1947) by Malcolm Lowry takes place on this day in a fictionalized Cuernavaca, Morelos. Ray Bradbury's novel The Halloween Tree (1972) includes an explanation of the holiday as part of a greater worldwide tradition and features a Mexican sugar skull as a plot device. Barbara Hambly's novel Days Of The Dead (2003) climaxes on this day in 1835. Film The film The Crow: City of Angels takes place in a fictionalized version of Los Angeles during the Day of the Dead celebration. Sugar skulls and tribute altars are referenced, and the film's climax takes place during a large Day of the Dead street party.

Television The first episode of the Adult Swim series The Venture Bros., "Dia de Los Dangerous!", takes place on this day. Hank and Dean Venture purchase sombreros and sugar skulls, and then Hank describes the events to their father, who has just given a lecture to a very small audience, due in part to the holiday. Computer Games The 1998 computer game Grim Fandango was set in 4 different Days of the Dead over 4 years, and makes extensive use of iconography from the festival, with most characters being represented as skeletal figures in the manner similar to the skeletons of the Day of the Dead. See also

Question: All Saints Day is celebrated on the first day of which month?
Answer: November